An entire life of solitude contradicts the purpose of our being, since death itself is scarcely an idea of more terror. Edmund Burke More Quotes by Edmund Burke More Quotes From Edmund Burke Writers, especially when they act in a body and with one direction, have great influence on the public mind. Edmund Burke one-direction mind writing In such a strait the wisest may well be perplexed and the boldest staggered. Edmund Burke wells wisdom may The religion most prevalent in our northern colonies is a refinement on the principles of resistance: it is the dissidence of dissent, and the protestantism of the Protestant religion. Edmund Burke resistance principles religion Prejudice renders a man's virtue his habit, and a series of unconnected arts. Though just prejudice, his duty becomes a part of his nature. Edmund Burke prejudice men art Instead of casting away all our old prejudices, we cherish them to a very considerable degree, and, to take more shame to ourselves, we cherish them because they are prejudices; and the longer they have lasted and the more generally they have prevailed, the more we cherish them. We are afraid to put men to live and trade each on his own private stock of reason; because we suspect that this stock in each man is small, and that the individuals would do better to avail themselves of the general bank and capital of nations and of ages. Edmund Burke casting age men Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations. Edmund Burke metaphysical adequate men The conduct of a losing party never appears right: at least it never can possess the only infallible criterion of wisdom to vulgar judgements-success. Edmund Burke judgement party losing A jealous lover lights his torch from the firebrand of the fiend. Edmund Burke torches jealousy light A man is allowed sufficient freedom of thought, provided he knows how to choose his subject properly.... But the scene is changed as you come homeward, and atheism or treason may be the names given in Britain to what would be reason and truth if asserted in China. Edmund Burke atheism names men All writers on the science of policy are agreed, and they agree with experience, that all governments must frequently infringe the rules of justice to support themselves; that truth must give way to dissimulation, honesty to convenience, and humanity itself to the reigning of interest. The whole of this mystery of iniquity is called the reason of state. Edmund Burke honesty government giving I do not know how to wish success to those whose Victory is to separate from us a large and noble part of our Empire. Still less do I wish success to injustice, oppression and absurdity. Edmund Burke victory noble wish The parties are the gamesters; but government keeps the table, and is sure to be the winner in the end. Edmund Burke party government tables Pleasure of every kind quickly satisfies. Edmund Burke pleasure kind Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel. Edmund Burke adultery forgiving murder An extreme rigor is sure to arm everything against it. Edmund Burke rigor oppression arms Obstinacy, sir, is certainly a great vice; and in the changeful state of political affairs it is frequently the cause of great mischief. It happens, however, very unfortunately, that almost the whole line of the great and masculine virtues--constancy, gravity, magnanimity, fortitude, fidelity, and firmness--are closely allied to this disagreeable quality, of which you have so just an abhorrence; and in their excess all these virtues very easily fall into it. Edmund Burke quality political fall Poetry, with all its obscurity, has a more general as well as a more powerful dominion over the passions than the art of painting. Edmund Burke passion powerful art I set out with a perfect distrust of my own abilities, a total renunciation of every speculation of my own, and with a profound reverence for the wisdom of our ancestors, who have left us the inheritance of so happy a Constitution and so flourishing an empire, and, what is a thousand times more valuable, the treasury of the maxims and principles which formed the one and obtained the other. Edmund Burke principles perfect profound The moment that government appears at market, the principles of the market will be subverted. Edmund Burke government moments principles The true way to mourn the dead is to take care of the living who belong to them. Edmund Burke mourning care way
